A KURDISH asylum-seeker who got behind the wheel while banned escaped a jail sentence -- but was told custody awaited if he did it again.

Burnley Magistrates heard that Rabeen Rashid, 24, had promised the court he would not drive again if he was given a chance.

Rashid, of Hindle Street, Darwen, admitted driving while disqualified, resisting or obstructing a police officer and using an uninsured vehicle on June 16.

He was given a three-month curfew order, between the hours of 10am and 3pm, between Monday and Friday.

David Connor, defending, said Rashid came to this country before the recent conflict with Iraq and committed the one-off offences to help his girlfriend who had done so much for him.

Their seven children were in great need of furniture for their new home and he felt he could not go on public transport with it all.

It was not a case of deliberately flouting the order.